Anthony Davis, Perry Jones, and Quincy Miller- Your ranking and why

First of all, I understand that there’s a lockout and I see some people trying to keep things alive with various topics, but this is an NBA Draft website after all, so I think we need to use this slow period to compare some of our favorite prospects, and i’d like to start with this post comparing three versatile combo forwards in Anthony Davis, Quincy Miller, and Perry Jones.

Typically a good draft will have atleast one guy that falls into the category that these three do, which is that of the unusually talented forward who oozes versatility. The NBA game has fallen in love with these tweener forwards who can do a little bit of everything. I agree with the general consensus that Davis is the best prospect. The reason for this though, is not because of talent alone. It is because of factors like effort and attitude, both of which I have questioned from Jones and Miller.

1. DAVIS-I hate hearing the same description of different prospects from year to year, but many of those cliches scouts love really do apply to Anthony Davis. "The sky’s the limit," "no ceiling," etc. His rise to stardom has been unbelievable. His skill level is not typical for a 6’11 guy, because he was a already a D-1 prospect as a 6’3 guard. Like Kevin Garnett before him, that time on the perimeter in his early years has given him a unique knack for productivity as a big man, evidenced by his absurd averages of 32 ppg, 22 rpg, and 8 bpg last season.

Although very athletic, he’s not quite as explosive as some of the elite athletes in the league, but he makes up for it with incredible fluidity and smoothness. Also, having grown so much in a short time frame, there is a great chance his athleticism will improve significantly in the coming years. How scary is that? I also recently heard John Calipari say he’s one of Kentucky’s best shooters, not surprising considering his great form. My only concern is that he doesn’t have a frame capable of gaining much weight, although he’s improved on that already this offseason.

On top of all that, he’s a humble kid with a great work ethic and good attitude by all accounts.

2. JONES-It was tough deciding between Jones and Davis. I’m that amazed by his ability. Jones is that elite athlete you rarely see at 6’11. In terms of raw, God-given  tools, very few on any level stack up to Jones. The comparisons to Tracy McGrady show just how easy the game comes to him. He’s also got a great body for an NBA 4 man that will only get stronger. There is absolutely no limit to how good he’s physically capable of becoming. He an do it all. Handle, pass, run, and finish over everybody.

That being said, I wonder how badly he wants to reach his potential. I don’t see a dying love for the game when I watch him, and am always wary of guys with a knack for underachieving. Again, this is not because of physical ability, but mentality and aggressiveness. My best guess is that he proves to be a great talent who might make people pay for passing on him early in his career and seem like a potential franchise talent, but will ultilmately always leave you wanting more.

The best part though is that he’ll have a chance to get his stock as high as he wants this season and erase many question marks.

3. MILLER– He’s nice, plain and simple. Miller, atleast at this point in time, has a major star quality. He can create his own shot and has some incredible moves off the dribble. Phenomenal instincts for getting seperation and finding a way to score despite a lack of strength. Can stretch it out to the 3, even off the dribble. Wouldn’t test out as a great combine athlete, but is still an explosive finisher with hsi length and basketball instincts. He also has great confidence and a fearless attitude. He believes he’s the best player on the floor every time out and won’t be told otherwise. The belief in oneself cannot be overlooked when evaluating a player. 

That same attitude, though is what makes me question how good Miller will be. I’ll admit I might have become a bit biased at this point because i’m not a fan of a kid being so cocky when he’s that young, but I have to question Miller’s coachability going forward. His absurd arrogance makes it hard for me to believe he can resist mouthing off when a coach tries to yell at him or when he’s not being told how great he is. I also think he will have the toughest adjustment period in the NBA between these 3 guys. He can make shots but has a funky release and will need to improve that if he ever wants to be a consistent threat.

Thats my order. How would you rank the 3 and why?